chemotropism

noun

che·​mot·​ro·​pism ki-ˈmä-trə-ˌpi-zəm How to pronounce chemotropism (audio)
ke-
: orientation of cells or organisms in relation to chemical stimuli

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chemotropismus, from chemo- chemo- + -tropismus -tropism

Note: The term was introduced by the German physiologist Max Verworn (1863-1921) in Psycho-physiologische Protisten-Studien (Jena, 1889), p. 103. Verworn intended it as a replacement for the term Chemotaxis introduced the previous year by Wilhelm Pfeffer (see chemotaxis), in line with existing terms ending in -tropismus.

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemotropism was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near chemotropism

Cite this Entry

“Chemotropism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemotropism. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chemotropism

noun
che·​mot·​ro·​pism kē-ˈmä-trə-ˌpiz-əm How to pronounce chemotropism (audio)
ke-
: positioning of cells or organisms in relation to a chemical

Medical Definition

chemotropism

noun
che·​mot·​ro·​pism ki-ˈmä-trə-ˌpiz-əm, ke- How to pronounce chemotropism (audio)
: orientation of cells or organisms in relation to chemical stimuli
chemotropic adjective
chemotropically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on chemotropism

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